Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process that makes it possible to epoxidize &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated enones or &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated sulfones with high conversions and enantiomeric excesses in the presence of a water-soluble base, an oxidant, a diastereomer- and enantiomer-enriched homo-polyamino acid as catalyst, water, an organic solvent that is immiscible or has only limited miscibility with water, and a specific phase-transfer catalyst as cocatalyst.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of meta or para-substituted &agr;-arylalkanoic acids of formula (I) wherein R and R1 are as defined in the disclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved process for producing ethyl acetate comprising contacting acetic acid and ethanol in a reaction zone in the presence of an acid catalyst, distilling formed vapors and condensing to form an organic phase rich in ethyl acetate and an aqueous phase rich in water, separating the phases and further distilling each phase to obtain a final purified ethyl acetate product and a water stream low in organic components, the improvement comprising directing the organic phase from the first distillation to the reaction zone. An alternate embodiment involves directing at least a portion of the organic phase from the first distillation to a membrane separation unit which removes water and/or alcohol from the organic phase rich in ethyl acetate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for causing sodium sulfide or a mixture of sodium sulfide and sulfur to react with diazonium salt formed by diazotizing anthranilic acid, wherein the Na/S atomic ratio as calculated on the basis of the employed sodium sulfide and sulfur is adjusted to within the range of 1.33 to 2.0 during the reaction. Thus is made practicable the manufacture of thiosalicylic acid in a high yield without going through the individual route of isolating and reducing dithiosalicylic acid.

Abstract: This invention is directed to novel halogenated paclitaxel derivatives, processes for their preparation and use as effective anti-tumor agents.

Abstract: Water-soluble or water-dispersible branched or unbranched cationic epoxy compounds comprise a backbone having covalently attached thereto two or more epoxy moieties and one or more of the same or different organoonium moieties. The backbone comprises at least 25 weight % oxygen.

Abstract: Taxane derivatives having alternative C7 substituents.

Abstract: A crystalline titanosilicate catalyst which is usable as a catalyst in the oxidation reaction of a compound having a carbon-carbon double bond and at least one other functional group, a process for producing the catalyst, and a process for producing an oxidized compound by an oxidation reaction using the catalyst. It has been found that a crystalline titanosilicate having a structural code of MWW effectively functions as a catalyst in an oxidation reaction of a compound having a carbon-carbon double bond and at least one other functional group wherein the carbon-carbon double bond of the compound is oxidized by using a peroxide as an oxidizing agent, thereby to highly selectively provide an intended oxidized compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for isolating and purifying paclitaxel from a natural resource of taxanes, comprising the steps of (a) washing a raw material comprising paclitaxel with water in order to remove soluble impurities from the raw material; (b) extracting with an organic solvent a wet raw material comprising paclitaxel; (c) contacting the wet raw material with a salt to obtain a biomass by precipitation, isolation, and drying; (d) removing resin and natural pigments from the dried biomass by dissolving the biomass in acetone or an acetone-hexane mixture, and adding at least one polar solvent until a paclitaxel-enriched oil phase is obtained; and (e) chromatography purifying the paclitaxel-enriched oil phase in a volatile solvent to obtain a purified solution, followed by crystallization.

Abstract: Processes for the preparation of Venlafaxine (IX) via the novel epoxy-nitrile intermediate (I), which when subjected to hydrogenation forms compound (X), and may subsequently be reduced to yield the desired product (IX). The epoxy-nitrile intermediate (I) itself may be synthesized via various alternative reaction strategies, from a range of starting materials. E.g. 4-methoxy-benzaldehyde (VI), upon treatment with cyclohexyl magnesium bromide yields compound (V). This in turn may be oxidized to yield compound (III), which forms compound (II) on treatment with an (x-keto-halogenation agent. Cyanation of compound (II), then yields the desired epoxy nitrile intermediate (I), from which Venlafaxine (IX) may be synthesized.

Abstract: These compounds contain an oxetane functionality and a cinnamyl functionality. The oxetane functionality is homopolymerizable in reactions that can undergo cationic or anionic ring opening, and the cinnamyl functionality is polymerizable with compounds such as electron acceptor compounds. The dual functionality allows for dual cure processing. The generic structure of such compounds is in which R is a methyl or ethyl group, X and Y independently are a direct bond, or an ether, ester, or carbamate group, and Q is a divalent hydrocarbon (which may contain heteroatoms of N, O, or S), provided that X and Y will not both be direct bonds in the same molecule.

Abstract: An antitumor compound of formula (5): Also provided by the present invention is a method of preparing a compound of formula (5) whereby diesterification of the alcohol groups located at the 2′ and 7 positions of paclitaxel is followed by the hydrolysis of the 2′ hexanoate group resulting in 7-hexanoyltaxol.

Abstract: 11,12-Oxidoarachidonic acid derivatives and methods of their use for treating dry eye are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns novel taxane derivatives, their use as antitumor agents, and pharmaceutical formulations. The invention claims compounds of formula I and the use of compounds of formula I or pharmaceutical salts thereof as oral drugs for the treatment of human or veterinary disease. in which: R is phenyl, isopropyl, or tert butyl; R1 is —C(O)Rz in which Rz is (CH3)3CO—, (CH3)3CCH2—, CH3(CH2)3O—, cyclobutyl-, cyclohexyloxy, or (2-furyl); R2 is CH3C(O)O—.

Abstract: Taxanes having a carbamoyloxy substituent at C(7), a hydroxy substituent at C(10, and a range of C(2), C(9), C(14), and side chain substituents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for producing a &dgr;-lactone of the formula: using an acyl halide of the formula: wherein R1, R2 R3 and X are described herein, as well as novel intermediates. In particular, the present invention relates to a process for enantioselectively producing the (R)-&dgr;-lactone.

Abstract: A method of epoxidizing an unsaturated compound having a carbon-to-carbon double bond to form an oxirane ring across the double bond comprising adding to said unsaturated compound (a) an organic acid capable of being oxidized to form a peracid; (b) an oxidizing agent selected from hydrogen peroxide or acetaldehyde monoperacetate, or a combination thereof; and (c) with or without an acid catalyst selected from a mineral acid or styrene sulfonic acid, or a combination thereof to form a reactant mixture; and forming the reactant mixture in a film against a wall of a thin-film reactor that is at a temperature sufficient to form a peracid from the organic acid, and contacting the film of reactant mixture against the film reactor wall for a time sufficient for reaction of a portion of the peracid with the unsaturated compound to form an oxirane ring across a double bond of the unsaturated compound. In another embodiment, preformed peracid and unsaturated compound are added directly to the thin-film reactor.

Abstract: A process for preparing 6-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroquinolinone by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts alkylation of N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-chloropropionamide in which an equivalent of N-(4-methoxphenyl)-3-chloropropionamide is contacted with a Lewis acid in DMSO or a high boiling amide or amine at an elevated temperature of from about 150° C. to about 220° C. is provided. The process produces 6-HQ in high yield and a high state of purity such that it may be used in subsequent reactions toward the preparation of cilostazol without intermediate purification. A process for preparing cilostazol from 6-hydroxy-3,4-dihydroquinolinone prepared by the process and improved processes for preparing N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-chloropropionamide are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process of converting lipstatin to orlistat by catalytic hydrogenation. The present invention further discloses novel crystalline solid orlistat forms, designated form I and form II and methods for their preparation.

Abstract: Taxane derivatives having an amino substituted C13 side chain.